LIONEL Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may have 11 Ballon d’Or’s between them, but this lot couldn’t even win one.
These legends for club and country were cruelly robbed of the best player prize in football during their illustrious careers.
Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or six more times than these brilliant playersCredit: Getty – Contributor
And in the wake of Sergio Aguero revealing he wanted to stay at Man City and win the Ballon d’Or, we thought we’d give you our take on the best players who never managed to win the coveted trophy.
Some you may know, some may be a surprise, while others you could argue were cheated out of it.
THIERRY HENRY
Between 2001-06, the former Arsenal forward was at the peak of his powers.
Not only was he Premier League top scorer in four of those five seasons, he netted 29 goals in 52 Champions League games during that time – a competition in which a players’ worth is measured on the world stage.
But for some reason, despite unplayable performances – including decimating Inter Milan at the San Siro, the best he could finish was runner-up in the Ballon d’Or ratings.
In 2003, he finished behind Pavel Nedved. Surely that’s not right?
Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorerCredit: PA:Press Association
PAOLO MALDINI
He’s been called the best defender to have ever played the game.
As capable at centre half as he was at left back, where he began his career, the AC Milan icon won 25 trophies, including seven Serie A titles and the Champions League five times.
But for all his brilliance, he was often overshadowed by his more glamorous team-mates like Andriy Shevchenko, Kaka, George Weah, Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit, who were all recipients of the Ballon d’Or ball.
Best it got for him was third place in 1994 and 2003.
Five-time Champions League winner Paolo Maldini finished third in the Ballon d’Or vote three timesCredit: AP:Associated Press
XAVI
The heartbeat of Barcelona’s tiki-taka style, the Spanish midfielder played 767 times for the Catalans.
And in that time he was showered with awards – and was included in the UEFA Team of the Year five times in a row between 2008-12.
But the Ballon d’Or evaded him, even when he helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup – recording an astonishing 91 per cent pass completion rate in the tournament.
Xavi finished third three years in a row between 2009-11.
Xavi was the heartbeat of Barcelona’s tiki-taka styleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
FERENC PUSKAS
No technicalities here, Puskas – who scored 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary and 622 club goals in his career – failed to win the Ballon d’Or – despite his greatness.
The Real Madrid legend won five La Liga titles and the Champions League three times.
But he had to watch as his team-mate Alfredo Di Stefano claimed all the honours – winning the award twice.
Puskas managed to finish runner-up in 1960, but he could be thought of as the best never to win it, who was eligible.
No 10 Puskas was always the bridesmaid, never the bride in the Ballon d’Or raceCredit: PA:Press Association
KENNY DALGLISH
The Scottish forward was one of the best players to come from these shores.
Bought from Celtic in 1977 to replace Kevin Keegan, who a year later DID win the Ballon d’Or at Hamburg, Dalglish was dealt a tough order.
But ‘King Kenny’ took it in his stride – scoring 31 goals in his first season, and following that up with 25 strikes the following year.
His brilliant performances led Liverpool to three European Cup wins in 1978, 1981, and 1984.
In the 1983 Ballon d’Or race he was runner-up to Michel Platini.
Kenny Dalglish was a Ballon d’Or runner-up to Michel PlatiniCredit: PA:Empics Sport
ANDRES INIESTA
The most decorated player in Spanish football history – with 35 trophies, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions League’s.
He was an instrumental in Barcelona’s historic treble-winning seasons in 2009 and 2015.
Iniesta also scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in 2010 World Cup final.
Despite all those wonderful achievements, Iniesta was at best a runner-up in 2010, fourth place in 2011, and third-place in 2012… at least he was consistent.
Andres Iniesta is the most decorated Spanish player of all timeCredit: AFP
BOBBY MOORE
Arguably, England’s greatest ever player – Bobby Moore, the captain of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, never got the chance to lift a Ballon d’Or.
That’s despite doing a first class job marking Eusebio, and restricting the 1965 Ballon d’Or winner to just a goal from the penalty spot in the ’66 semi-final.
Instead, it was Bobby Charlton who was named world’s best player after England were crowned world champions that victorious year.
Moore was voted second in 1970 behind German goalscoring machine Gerd Muller, the same year of that remarkable tackle on Jairzinho and after-game hug from Pele.
Bobby Moore won the World Cup, but not the Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty – Contributor
In 1970 Moore finished runner-up for the Ballon d’OrCredit: Rex Features
Cristiano Ronaldo ‘tells pals he regrets Juventus transfer and thinks he would have more Ballons d’Or if he stayed at Real’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
